- OfficePortal vs Paycor in one line: Paycor is a large, quote-based US HCM suite; OfficePortal is a complete HR system with prices on its website.
- OfficePortal Premium costs $4 per user per month billed yearly and covers attendance, biometric check-in, shift scheduling, leave, performance reviews and payroll.
- Paycor doesn't publish prices. Independent estimates vary widely and often add implementation fees.
- Paychex completed its purchase of Paycor on 14 April 2025, in a deal valued at about $4.1 billion.
- Paycor files US payroll taxes and OfficePortal doesn't. OfficePortal works for teams in any location.
What is Paycor?
Paycor is a US HR and payroll company founded in 1990 in Cincinnati, Ohio. Its suite covers payroll with tax filing, time and attendance, scheduling, recruiting, onboarding, learning, pulse surveys, compensation planning, expense management and analytics. It sells its own time clocks, including fingerprint and facial-recognition models, and offers plans for businesses from under 50 to over 1,000 employees. Since April 2025 it has been owned by Paychex.
Why do growing teams pick OfficePortal instead?
- You can see the price. All plans are on our pricing page, and Premium is $4 per user per month billed yearly.
- You can start today. The Standard plan is free for up to five users, so you can test with real people before buying.
- Attendance without buying hardware: web and biometric check-in, plus GPS and selfie add-ons, through attendance tracking.
- Shifts and leave in the same place: shift scheduling with automatic overtime, and leave management with approvals and carry forward.
- Reviews included: performance management with review cycles, assessments and goals.
- Security you can check: AES-256 encryption, SOC 2 compliance and 99.9% uptime, with mobile apps for staff and managers.
- People who help you set up: our onboarding team handles setup, data migration and training.
How much does Paycor cost?
Paycor doesn't list prices; you'll get a quote after a demo. Independent pricing guides describe a monthly base fee plus a per-employee fee, with estimates ranging from single digits to around $30 per employee per month depending on plan and size, and implementation fees on top. Because those sources disagree, we don't quote a single figure here.
OfficePortal Premium is $4 per user per month billed yearly, or $5 monthly. For 50 people that's $200 a month, and the Standard plan is free for up to five users.
Paycor disadvantages: why do companies look for alternatives?
- No published pricing. You can't compare costs until you've been through sales.
- Extra costs to plan for. Independent guides mention implementation fees, and some reviewers say fees went up over time.
- Support complaints. Slow answers on urgent issues and changing account reps come up often in reviews.
- Rough onboarding for some. A number of reviewers describe a difficult implementation.
- Built around US payroll. Paycor's payroll and compliance tools are designed for US employers.
- Ownership change. Paycor is now part of Paychex, and some buyers want to see how the product and pricing develop before committing.
Where is Paycor stronger?
In fairness, Paycor does some things OfficePortal doesn't. It files US federal, state and local payroll taxes, sells its own biometric time clocks, and adds recruiting, learning and compensation tools that suit larger US employers. Reviewers often praise its ease of use and having everything in one platform, and it has more than three decades in the market.
Which should you choose?
- Choose Paycor if you're a US employer with dozens or hundreds of staff, you want payroll tax filing and recruiting from one vendor, and you're comfortable with a quote-based contract.
- Choose OfficePortal if you want clear pricing, a free way to start, strong attendance and shift tools, and support for teams outside the US.
Does OfficePortal file US payroll taxes?
No. OfficePortal doesn't file US federal, state or local payroll taxes. If that's a must, a US provider such as Paycor covers it. Some teams pair a US payroll provider with OfficePortal for attendance, shifts, leave and reviews.
How do you switch from Paycor to OfficePortal?
- Export employee records, pay history, deductions, time-off balances and attendance logs before your contract ends.
- Book a demo. Our onboarding team helps with setup, data migration and training.
- Connect your biometric devices, set shifts and leave policies, then run one payroll in parallel.
Still comparing? See OfficePortal vs Paylocity, OfficePortal vs ADP or browse all HR software alternatives.